Houthis Claim NCC Ghazal Tanker Attack, Fire Missiles at Saudi Oil Vessel

Saudi Arabia vs Houthi – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – The NCC Ghazal tanker attack has once again put the Red Sea shipping route under the spotlight. Yemen’s Houthi group says its fighters launched ballistic missiles at the Saudi oil tanker, forcing the vessel to turn back mid-voyage.

The strike happened more than a week after the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi ships. Group spokesman Yahya Saree shared the news on social media, saying the tanker had broken the group’s maritime ban.

According to Saree, several missiles were fired during the operation. He said the attack pushed the ship to retreat before it could complete its journey through the busy waterway.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations, a group that tracks ship safety, confirmed a tanker reported an explosion while passing through the Red Sea. The crew stayed safe, and no damage to the environment was reported.

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This isn’t the first such incident. Just days earlier, the Houthis claimed responsibility for hitting two more Saudi tankers, named Encelia and Layla, for allegedly breaking the same blockade rule.

Saudi officials confirmed the Encelia had indeed been struck. A source from the country’s Transport General Authority said every crew member on board remained unharmed.

The Houthis first announced their blockade on July 20. The group accused Saudi leaders of placing an unfair siege on Yemen for nearly twelve years. They claimed this blockade had drained the country’s resources for far too long.

In their statement, the group said Yemeni people have every right to answer a blockade with a blockade of their own. This message came just before the recent string of tanker attacks began.

The Houthis took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, back in 2014. Since then, they have fought against Yemen’s official government, a government that Saudi Arabia continues to support.

These attacks are happening near one of the world’s busiest oil trade routes. The Bab al-Mandeb strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, making it a key passage for global shipping.

This narrow strait sits between Yemen and the Horn of Africa nations of Djibouti and Eritrea. At its tightest point, it measures just 29 kilometers wide, limiting ships to only two lanes.

Because of this narrow gap, ship traffic heading toward the Suez Canal often slows down here. Any disruption in this area can affect oil flow to markets across the globe.

In 2024 alone, about 4.1 billion barrels of crude oil and refined fuel passed through this strait. That number makes up close to five percent of the entire world’s oil movement.

With attacks like the NCC Ghazal tanker strike continuing, shipping companies now face tougher choices. Many must decide whether the risk of sailing through this route is still worth taking.

As tensions stay high, more countries and maritime groups are watching the region closely. Any further escalation could impact oil prices and global trade routes in the months ahead.